Today, Mitski released a special 10th-anniversary edition of her landmark album Puberty 2. The celebration includes a suite of new merchandise, exclusive videos, and a pair of surprising covers: “Fireproof” by One Direction and “I’m a Fool to Want You” by Frank Sinatra. The anniversary collection also features two new “I Bet on Losing Dogs” t-shirts and a limited-edition vinyl release.
Despite the eclectic nature of the source material, both covers integrate seamlessly into the sonic landscape of the original album. Mitski reimagines One Direction’s “Fireproof” through her signature lens of distortion, transforming the original’s soft guitar arrangement into a fuller, more abrasive track. Conversely, her take on Sinatra’s “I’m a Fool to Want You” leans into a state of cosmic tension, with Mitski repeating the titular refrain amidst suspended chords that slowly unravel.
Puberty 2 arrived in 2016 as a gut-wrenching self-portrait of raw angst, confusion, and adolescence. Tracks like “I Bet on Losing Dogs” and “Your Best American Girl” remain pillars of the record, capturing the visceral pressure of the era. The new material continues to strike a “balance in unevenness,” a concept Mitski discussed during her 2016 Gen F interview. This evolution is also evident in her recent work, including the single “Where’s My Phone?” from her February album Nothing’s About to Happen to Me.
Mitski in 2016 for her GEN F photoshoot with The FADER following the original release of Puberty 2.Cait Opperman / The FADER